Elio España
@elioespana.bsky.social
Writer & Filmmaker. Formerly of London, now of Folkestone. https://www.aftershocks.co http://spiritlevelcinema.co.uk
Genuinely shocking. I really hope that Europe hasn’t been as complacent as it appears, and has planned for this.
Well, once again it was shown that Trump's "support" for Ukraine was a con. He has been working with Putin in secret to craft a "peace" deal which the US and Russia will now try to shove down Ukrainian and European throats. Just sent out this free piece. open.substack.com/pub/phillips...
Trump Was Working With Putin The Entire Time
And Now Europe and Ukraine Will Pay The Price
open.substack.com
November 19, 2025 at 9:39 PM
Genuinely shocking. I really hope that Europe hasn’t been as complacent as it appears, and has planned for this.
Excellent from @pluralistic.net.web.brid.gy on some of the issues around copyright and the creative industries cartels.
Pluralistic: Disney lost Roger Rabbit (18 Nov 2025) – Pluralistic: Daily links from Cory Doctorow
pluralistic.net
November 19, 2025 at 7:31 AM
Excellent from @pluralistic.net.web.brid.gy on some of the issues around copyright and the creative industries cartels.
Remember walking out of my CLP at the height of the Corbyn madness & Stella talking me down - “critical to remain in the party & fight” etc. Now it’s the opposite extreme of the party and I don’t think I can do it this time, it’s just too disgusting. Greens aren’t the answer. It all feels very bleak
Plans to leave refugees in a state of perpetual uncertainty about where and if they can rebuild their lives are not just performative cruelty, they are counterproductive to integration and the economy. It doesn’t have to be like this - 1/2
November 17, 2025 at 10:34 PM
Remember walking out of my CLP at the height of the Corbyn madness & Stella talking me down - “critical to remain in the party & fight” etc. Now it’s the opposite extreme of the party and I don’t think I can do it this time, it’s just too disgusting. Greens aren’t the answer. It all feels very bleak
Please consider a small donation to a great fundraiser.
Folkestone Care Leavers Christmas Dinner 2025 www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/folkestone...
Folkestone Care Leavers Christmas Dinner 2025 www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/folkestone...
Folkestone Care Leavers Christmas Dinner 2025
A Christmas Day event for care-experienced young people 18-25 years who may otherwise be alone at Christmas.
www.crowdfunder.co.uk
November 16, 2025 at 8:28 PM
Please consider a small donation to a great fundraiser.
Folkestone Care Leavers Christmas Dinner 2025 www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/folkestone...
Folkestone Care Leavers Christmas Dinner 2025 www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/folkestone...
Typically have zero interest in hearing guff about Royals, but given recent events I thought, “go on then”.
Summary: My god.
Not sure why British Republicanism remains such a fringe position.
Summary: My god.
Not sure why British Republicanism remains such a fringe position.
Entitled: The Rise and Fall of the House of York: The Rise and Fall of the House of York (Audio Download): Andrew Lownie, William Collins: Amazon.co.uk: Books
Entitled: The Rise and Fall of the House of York: The Rise and Fall of the House of York (Audio Download): Andrew Lownie, William Collins: Amazon.co.uk: Books
amzn.eu
November 12, 2025 at 9:00 AM
Typically have zero interest in hearing guff about Royals, but given recent events I thought, “go on then”.
Summary: My god.
Not sure why British Republicanism remains such a fringe position.
Summary: My god.
Not sure why British Republicanism remains such a fringe position.
He doesn’t intend to “sue” in the form of asking the court, in good faith, for a judgement in his favour, because the probability is that he’ll lose.
This is just his tactic of coercion and intimidation. This might be a good opportunity for someone to finally stand up to it and go to court.
This is just his tactic of coercion and intimidation. This might be a good opportunity for someone to finally stand up to it and go to court.
Trump says he has 'obligation' to sue BBC over speech edit
The US president indicates he will go ahead with a lawsuit against the BBC over how his speech was presented by Panorama.
www.bbc.com
November 12, 2025 at 7:23 AM
He doesn’t intend to “sue” in the form of asking the court, in good faith, for a judgement in his favour, because the probability is that he’ll lose.
This is just his tactic of coercion and intimidation. This might be a good opportunity for someone to finally stand up to it and go to court.
This is just his tactic of coercion and intimidation. This might be a good opportunity for someone to finally stand up to it and go to court.
Kemkaran is former BBC News employee. This kind of obtuse bullshit is a textbook example of the opportunism, dishonesty and tactical conspiracism characteristic of Reform and its entire political project.
The KCC leader has had film crews following her for a documentary, but has now raised some concerns about how it might be edited
Read more: www.kentonline.co.uk/kent/news/kc...
Read more: www.kentonline.co.uk/kent/news/kc...
November 11, 2025 at 9:39 AM
Kemkaran is former BBC News employee. This kind of obtuse bullshit is a textbook example of the opportunism, dishonesty and tactical conspiracism characteristic of Reform and its entire political project.
The real governance failure, and failure of ministerial oversight, is that the fifth columnists and political appointees inserted into the BBC by the Conservative Party have not been removed.
The biggest threats to impartiality are the ceaseless efforts by the Right to direct or destroy the BBC.
The biggest threats to impartiality are the ceaseless efforts by the Right to direct or destroy the BBC.
BBC board member with Tory links ‘led charge’ in systemic bias claims, say insiders
Sources say Robbie Gibb amplified criticisms of Trump, Gaza and trans rights coverage, and had ‘a lot of oxygen in the room’
www.theguardian.com
November 10, 2025 at 8:09 PM
The real governance failure, and failure of ministerial oversight, is that the fifth columnists and political appointees inserted into the BBC by the Conservative Party have not been removed.
The biggest threats to impartiality are the ceaseless efforts by the Right to direct or destroy the BBC.
The biggest threats to impartiality are the ceaseless efforts by the Right to direct or destroy the BBC.
“it has become “socially acceptable to be racist”, the health secretary said.” - I fear this is true, I’ve noticed it more and more over recent months, particularly on X & Facebook.
NHS staff face ‘ugly’ racism akin to the 70s and 80s, says Wes Streeting
NHS staff face ‘ugly’ racism akin to the 70s and 80s, says Wes Streeting
Health secretary and NHS England chief warn of winter pressures and rising levels of abuse
An “ugly” racism reminiscent of the 1970s and 1980s has become worryingly commonplace again in modern Britain and NHS staff are bearing the brunt of it, Wes Streeting has warned.
Incidents of verbal and physical abuse based on people’s skin colour now happen so often that it has become “socially acceptable to be racist”, the health secretary said. Continue reading...
www.theguardian.com
November 4, 2025 at 8:06 PM
“it has become “socially acceptable to be racist”, the health secretary said.” - I fear this is true, I’ve noticed it more and more over recent months, particularly on X & Facebook.
First saw this at the cinema as a 12 year old. Still stands up - an absolute classic. Think it’s my favourite Evil Dead.
November 3, 2025 at 8:16 PM
First saw this at the cinema as a 12 year old. Still stands up - an absolute classic. Think it’s my favourite Evil Dead.
Glorious Sunday, autumn surfers
November 2, 2025 at 6:40 PM
Glorious Sunday, autumn surfers
She’s at it again. Moron.
The moderate left needs to challenge this kind of nonsense. NATO is a diminished alliance that is finding its feet at a critical moment – pushing back against an actual imperialist power.
October 28, 2025 at 5:19 PM
She’s at it again. Moron.
“A realist”????!!
As in “let’s be real, we all know that there are too many black people on telly”??
Risen Jesus, who is responsible for the script? Did the producer have a stroke shortly before recording?
As in “let’s be real, we all know that there are too many black people on telly”??
Risen Jesus, who is responsible for the script? Did the producer have a stroke shortly before recording?
Is the Reform MP who says she’s driven mad by TV adverts full of Black & Asian people a racist or realist? How many migrants would the Tories expel? & should the UK be selling fighter jets to Türkiye?
Join LIVE at 9PM on X & YouTube or on ITV1 at 1045PM 📺
#Peston
Join LIVE at 9PM on X & YouTube or on ITV1 at 1045PM 📺
#Peston
October 28, 2025 at 1:01 PM
“A realist”????!!
As in “let’s be real, we all know that there are too many black people on telly”??
Risen Jesus, who is responsible for the script? Did the producer have a stroke shortly before recording?
As in “let’s be real, we all know that there are too many black people on telly”??
Risen Jesus, who is responsible for the script? Did the producer have a stroke shortly before recording?
Zarah Sultana is a moron.
We take no joy criticising a young left-wing UK political figure who has often spoken up for workers' rights and progressive causes. But these barely coherent comments from Zarah Sultana on Ukraine sum up much of what is wrong with her wing of the left www.instagram.com/reel/DQT62ys...
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www.instagram.com
October 28, 2025 at 7:18 AM
Zarah Sultana is a moron.
I would add “The Paperhanger” by William Gay. Memorably disturbing.
‘It’s insanely sinister’: horror writers on the scariest stories they’ve ever read
Bloodthirsty ghosts, sadistic supercomputers, creepy childhood games ... Mariana Enríquez, Paul Tremblay, Daisy Johnson and others on the tales that kept them up at night
www.theguardian.com
October 27, 2025 at 7:19 AM
I would add “The Paperhanger” by William Gay. Memorably disturbing.
This does not require a whole bank of questions, it needs immediate denunciation. The “clarity” is in the morality not the bureaucratic details.
“Bit worried about how your neo-Nazi remigration scheme would work in practice. But now you’ve cleared up the details that should be fine then”.
“Bit worried about how your neo-Nazi remigration scheme would work in practice. But now you’ve cleared up the details that should be fine then”.
Labour demands clarity on Tory plan to strip thousands of right to stay in UK
Anna Turley says legally settled people threatened by Katie Lam’s proposals deserve urgent clarification
www.theguardian.com
October 26, 2025 at 8:07 AM
This does not require a whole bank of questions, it needs immediate denunciation. The “clarity” is in the morality not the bureaucratic details.
“Bit worried about how your neo-Nazi remigration scheme would work in practice. But now you’ve cleared up the details that should be fine then”.
“Bit worried about how your neo-Nazi remigration scheme would work in practice. But now you’ve cleared up the details that should be fine then”.
Hayward’s illustration that a majority left-wing block coalesced to defeat the extreme right is an encouraging relief.
The nastiness of politics in the Reform era continues to be disturbing.
Agree 💯 that Labour’s focus must be to *improve life* as fast as possible. They need far more ambition.
The nastiness of politics in the Reform era continues to be disturbing.
Agree 💯 that Labour’s focus must be to *improve life* as fast as possible. They need far more ambition.
Plaid smash Reform to win in Caerphilly
These are the key takeaways from a massive night in Welsh politics
open.substack.com
October 24, 2025 at 7:09 AM
Hayward’s illustration that a majority left-wing block coalesced to defeat the extreme right is an encouraging relief.
The nastiness of politics in the Reform era continues to be disturbing.
Agree 💯 that Labour’s focus must be to *improve life* as fast as possible. They need far more ambition.
The nastiness of politics in the Reform era continues to be disturbing.
Agree 💯 that Labour’s focus must be to *improve life* as fast as possible. They need far more ambition.
Agree with this. We are in an ongoing political crisis, and struggle against the far right. Constitutional reform, including some form of PR and a written constitution (one which codifies fundamental rights) is an essential task before the next election, when it may be too late.
We must act now: without a written constitution, Reform UK will have carte blanche to toxify our nation | Goerge Monbiot
It means breaking with hundreds of years of tradition, but it can’t wait. As hard-right figures spread division and laud autocrats, a fail-safe is vital, says Guardian columnist George Monbiot
www.theguardian.com
October 23, 2025 at 6:56 AM
Agree with this. We are in an ongoing political crisis, and struggle against the far right. Constitutional reform, including some form of PR and a written constitution (one which codifies fundamental rights) is an essential task before the next election, when it may be too late.
Interesting post on reintermediation and how creators might escape from under the reign of the tech monopolies. The issue is that the cartel has already formed, and it's very difficult to imagine anything that might be able to compete with it.
Reintermediation: Humans over algorithms, the movement building a new web. – Netribution @ 25
25.netribution.co.uk
October 21, 2025 at 10:08 AM
Interesting post on reintermediation and how creators might escape from under the reign of the tech monopolies. The issue is that the cartel has already formed, and it's very difficult to imagine anything that might be able to compete with it.
It’s just the modern, 21st century right. It’s not their fault, they’ve been encouraged to behave this way. But it shouldn’t have been allowed, we shouldn’t have been so quick to abolish shame. We’ll need to deport them all in order to become morally coherent.
Tory MP criticised after demanding legally settled families be deported
Katie Lam said move would make UK ‘culturally coherent’ and that a large number of people ‘need to go home’
www.theguardian.com
October 20, 2025 at 10:04 PM
It’s just the modern, 21st century right. It’s not their fault, they’ve been encouraged to behave this way. But it shouldn’t have been allowed, we shouldn’t have been so quick to abolish shame. We’ll need to deport them all in order to become morally coherent.
Wasn’t the whole idea of the distributed internet that there wouldn’t be centralised control and a single point of failure? But when you leave all critical infrastructure to markets, and monopolies/cartels inevitably form…
October 20, 2025 at 5:04 PM
Wasn’t the whole idea of the distributed internet that there wouldn’t be centralised control and a single point of failure? But when you leave all critical infrastructure to markets, and monopolies/cartels inevitably form…
Key point in here is the futile, naive reporting on weapons & Trump’s attitude to Ukraine. If the US was going to send Tomahawks the media would know about it when one detonates in Russia, all the other chatter is just space-filling delusion.
Just sent out this free post. Trump is tormenting the Ukrainians, by giving them hope of helping them in ways that he never will (Tomahawks). I talk about why, and why the media needs to stop helping him do so much damage. open.substack.com/pub/phillips...
Trump Is Tormenting Ukraine
The least the media can do is not help him
open.substack.com
October 18, 2025 at 8:41 AM
Key point in here is the futile, naive reporting on weapons & Trump’s attitude to Ukraine. If the US was going to send Tomahawks the media would know about it when one detonates in Russia, all the other chatter is just space-filling delusion.
About time. Now don’t fuck it up.
Timely arrival: Great British Railways clock launches at London Bridge
Digital timepiece is UK rail’s first national clock in more than 50 years and will be seen at stations across the country
www.theguardian.com
October 16, 2025 at 5:02 PM
About time. Now don’t fuck it up.
This so overdue. Relieved that it’s now featuring more heavily in messaging - has to be pinned mercilessly on Farage.
BREAKING: “There is no doubting that the impact of Brexit is severe and long lasting” says Chancellor Rachel Reeves
It’s about time!
It’s about time!
October 15, 2025 at 6:21 AM
This so overdue. Relieved that it’s now featuring more heavily in messaging - has to be pinned mercilessly on Farage.
This continues to advance the argument for some form of PR. Despite what media Reform-fever would have you believe, there are more people on the left of politics than the right, and a coalition on the left may produce better outcomes than a Labour Party which feels it can’t simply ignore the right.
October 14, 2025 at 9:31 AM
This continues to advance the argument for some form of PR. Despite what media Reform-fever would have you believe, there are more people on the left of politics than the right, and a coalition on the left may produce better outcomes than a Labour Party which feels it can’t simply ignore the right.